Saving lives: Australian naloxone access model

Saving lives: Australian naloxone access model

The Minister for Health the Hon Greg Hunt MP has officially launched a new Penington Institute report: Saving lives: Australian naloxone access model.

Penington Institute CEO John Ryan says that opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone is a vital drug but it is not getting into the hands of those who need it.

“Naloxone is a remarkable medication which can save many more lives in every corner of the country. Obviously if people cannot get access to it or can’t afford it, we simply aren’t going to get anywhere,” John says.

Ensure priority people have easy access to naloxone. These people include: people who inject drugs, people prescribed strong opioids, soon-to-be released prison inmates, and the friends and family of people who use opioids.

Ensure the medication is available via intra-nasal spray.

Train people so they know how to use naloxone.

Authorise more professions, such as nurses and pharmacy staff, to supply the medication to achieve national consistency.